Austria will close 21 crossings at its border with Hungary and two with Slovakia from Saturday to prevent foot-and-mouth disease from entering the country, the Interior Ministry has said.
To strengthen Austria’s efforts to prevent the disease from crossing its border, Vienna will focus its police resources at those borders on its main crossings.
“So as not to undermine these police checks, we ask you to understand that we cannot provide further details, particularly the times, staffing levels, form of checks etc. at the various locations,” the ministry said.
The first outbreak of the highly infectious disease in 50 years in Hungary led the country on Wednesday to deploy soldiers and launch disinfection measures to contain it in an area bordering Slovakia and Austria.
The disease, which poses no danger to humans, mostly affects cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals like swine, sheep and goats, causing fever and mouth blisters. Outbreaks often lead to trade restrictions and culls of some livestock.
Slovakia declared an emergency situation on Tuesday last week after the disease was discovered on three farms.
“So as not to undermine these police checks, we ask you to understand that we cannot provide further details, particularly the times, staffing levels, form of checks etc. at the various locations,” the ministry said.
The first outbreak of the highly infectious disease in 50 years in Hungary led the country on Wednesday to deploy soldiers and launch disinfection measures to contain it in an area bordering Slovakia and Austria.
The disease, which poses no danger to humans, mostly affects cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals like swine, sheep and goats, causing fever and mouth blisters. Outbreaks often lead to trade restrictions and culls of some livestock.
Slovakia declared an emergency situation on Tuesday last week after the disease was discovered on three farms.
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